I wear makeup every day. Most days, I put on everything from concealer to bronzer to highlighter, but sometimes I keep it simple: just concealer, powder foundation and mascara. On very, very rare occasions, I go a whole day without putting on any makeup, but that means I spent the whole day at home with no intention of leaving. I never, ever go out of the house without it.
The thing is, I don’t look bad without makeup. I’m only 32 and I have good skin, due to genetics and religious moisturizing. (Korres Anti-Aging Night Cream and Wild Rose Moisturizing Cream. Find them at Sephora.) I could get away without wearing it. I’d save myself 10-15 minutes every day, well over an hour a week. What could I do with that hour? Something more productive than applying a facial mask, certainly. Additionally, my husband seems to think I look better without it. (But he also says I look great when I’m wearing it, so he may just be covering his bases.)
On the other hand, I like how I look with makeup. I’m used to how I look with makeup. I feel more confident and more beautiful. When you consider that it only takes 10-15 minutes to make me feel that way every day, it hardly seems a waste of time.
On Saturday morning, we drove down to Long Island for a family wedding later that day. I decided to skip makeup that morning so that I could put it on fresh for the wedding when we got down there. I figured I wouldn’t see anyone but Nick and Edwin on the way. Just down the road, however, there was a huge garage sale with a ton of kids’ toys out front. It seemed too good to pass up, so Nick stopped and I jumped out to gather some new things for Edwin. Of course, unbeknownst to me, the garage sale was run by a former school principal of mine and his entire family, including his sister, who works in the other building I teach at. I managed to make small talk and buy an armload of toys without my mask of makeup, and it went perfectly fine. No one treated me any differently or seemed to think I was less pretty or put-together. I could take this incident of proof that makeup really means nothing in the scheme of my life, but later that day, I put it all on and a little extra for the wedding, and I felt great. I have to conclude that even though makeup is unnecessary and maybe a little time-wasteful, it’s important to me, and worth the time for the self-esteem boost.
How many of you wear makeup daily? How many of you would feel naked without it?
As you probably noticed, I rarely wear it. I can tell more about my health by being able to see the skin on my face. Glad you got some great new toys for Edwin.
I like that idea, Lynn- showing your health on your face. It’s a good motivator for all of us to take care of ourselves inside and out.
I’m a rare makeup wearer, but I’m with you in that I feel much more confident and beautiful with it on. That being said, you just inspired me to put on a little for rehearsal tonight. Maybe my added boost of confidence will help with my high notes. 😉
And Nick is just right: you are beautiful with and without your makeup. I’d say your makeup doesn’t mask your natural beauty (as some people say makeup does), but rather enhances it. And I’ve always thought your makeup was done in a classy manner.
@FussieFoodie, you are making me blush! I guess I don’t need to put any on 🙂 I do try for an enhanced natural look. It’s not so much that it changes my look, it’s more that makeup is a security blanket for me, and that niggles at me. It would be nice if women as a group didn’t think we need makeup to feel confident. If no one wore it, it would be a nonissue.